Module 5E-08 Higher Level

EXTeNDED LeARniNG

If there are many mujtahidin why should we perform taqlid of the most learned one?

Think of a hospital or surgery. Even though each medical student goes through the same subject matter at medical school, eventually each doctor treats his or her patients in the way they believe is best practice and most beneficial to their patient. Similarly, with scholars, each has the same content available but differences may arise in each scholar’s understanding and interpretation.

The presence of differences in opinion is not significant. We must remind ourselves that each scholar strives and struggles extremely hard to research and study the laws of religion. This is a great responsibility. It is because the mujtahidin struggle in this way, pushing themselves to give their best, that Allah will not punish them or those who follow them if there are any mistakes in their rulings.

Furthermore, just like a patient will choose to seek medical advice from the doctor whom he or she believes is the most learned in medical sciences and has greater experience, as Muslims we must seek religious advice from the mujtahid who is the most knowledgeable and experienced of the time.

Look up rules 26 and 27 in Ayatullah Sistani’s book ‘A Code of Practice for Muslims in the West.’